How to Test a Surface for Proper Graphic Adhesion

October 13, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Indoor Display Tech Talk…

How to Test a Surface for Proper Graphic Adhesion. Lettering on glass or acrylic is one thing but applying vinyl graphics to painted walls, especially flat, satin or eggshell finishes, is questionable. Semigloss and gloss finishes are a better bet for successful adhesion. When in doubt about quality sign or display products and application procedures, always ask a 3M rep. They are very knowledgeable and responsive when you have a question.

I am working on some interior wall designs for a Virginia client today who wants some nice acrylic graphics panels with stand offs that raise them over super graphics of some really cool color photographs that will be enlarged as backdrops under their mission statement and core beliefs that will be rendered on the overlaid panels. I would like to propose applying the base graphics of several neat wall displays directly to the painted wall surfaces at their organization’s walls of focus in addition to using PVC as an option, but since the walls have either a flat or satin sheen, I’m uncertain about the success of adhesion if applied direct.

BUT..I found out there’s a neat wall test kit available from most 3M distributors that helps test whether the sheen of the paint is glossy enough for the wall graphics to stick without any problems. You know, there’s a test for anything, and it’s always wise to do your homework and get it right the first time.

An edge I may have over some in my field is more than 35 years experience in the sign industry where I have learned about some things that others may not consider important!!

Here’s the video on just how I can test your walls to make sure they are graphic ready should you ever have a project in mind…

Building Letters for Natural Bridge State Park

October 11, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Augusta Sign Company provided building letters for Natural Bridge State Park. The Natural Bridge in Virginia, one of the geographical wonders in our area, recently changed hands and is now a public park versus having private ownership. A parent of one of my teacher-wife’s kids has an electrical contracting business, Roscher Electric, and he contracts for the Natural Bridge Park. A little bit ago, he contacted me to tell me the park needed new wall letters after the name change took effect, and wondered if I could provide them. Since my company is an eVA vendor, I submitted a quote and was awarded the job.

Wall letters come in many forms. The simplest method to add your brand to a wall is to hand paint the lettering right onto the building surface. In my day, I have provided direct hand-painted graphics for walls of AutoZone stores, Sam’s Clubs, Virginia Frame Builders, and others. These projects entailed lettering on various surfaces from cinder block to stucco, to corrugated metal siding. A step above flush wall graphics is dimensional wall graphics.

Dimensional wall lettering can be made of solid or molded materials, usually plastic or aluminum, but can also be cut from wood and other materials like stainless steel, etc. When a customer orders a set or sets of wall letters, I first take a measurement of the space requirements, check local code for area allowances, and then submit several design options. In the case of the Natural Bridge letters, the customer wanted to keep the same 12″ letter height and typestyle of the previous letters.

When the letters are complete, a mounting pattern is also provided so the installer can set the letters correctly on the surface, in the case of Natural Bridge, the letters were set in wood. Many times the surface is brick, stucco, or corrugated metal, each application having specific choices for mounting the letters, but usually letters are stud mounted with non-rusting metal studs set in clear silicone filled holes.

Roscher Electric got my letters and did a great job on the sign installation down at Natural Bridge! Thanks goes out to them for the referral.

Mark Hackley owns and operates Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA 22980 540-943-9818. Contact him for all your signage needs!!

Reflective Signs Offer Less Expensive Options Than Electric Signs

October 10, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Reflective signs offer less expensive options than electric signs. The manager of marketing for a group of several hardware/feed supply stores in Central Virginia contacted me last month to provide options for a new wood framed ACM sign that would help lead potential customers to one of their sites.

Their store in Weyers Cave, Virginia is located off the beaten trail, so she was wondering about the cost of a reflective sign to replace the existing non-reflective one that had been there for quite some time. After seeing that the cost between reflective or non-reflective options was about a 30% difference, she ordered the new reflective sign to mark the turn off the main road.

We knew that standard DOT and traffic signs are okay to be reflective, but we weren’t all the way sure that commercial road signs could be. After checking with DOT’s office that deals with off-premise advertising, we found out that reflective graphics were legitimate as long as they didn’t resemble traffic control signs, such as traffic lights, etc.

The biggest benefit of reflective signs is their cost over internally illuminated signs. When you calculate the cost of the manufacture of the signs, the installation, the on-going maintenance, and especially the installation of a new circuit to provide power, reflective signs are quickly seen as one of the better alternatives.

Mark Hackley is the owner of Augusta Sign Company, Waynesboro, VA 540-943-9818

Augusta Sign Company on Waynesboro Economic Development Blog!

September 20, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Augusta Sign Company on Waynesboro Economic Development Blog!

Augusta Sign Company on Waynesboro Economic Development Blog! Many, many thanks to Courtney Cranor and the Waynesboro Department of Economic Development for featuring me in their monthly Grow Waynesboro blog about local entrepreneurs today.

Grow Waynesboro offers many services to entrepreneurs including grants, capital loans, start-up advice, etc. They also feature start-ups like this one and that is extremely helpful with marketing a new business. As a small business owner with limited capital, I really appreciate the exposure.

Here’s a link to the article…

Augusta Sign Company: Leaving a Lasting Impression on the Local Economy

Interior Sign Systems from Ordinary to Different

September 6, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Pretty Neat Interior Signs in Waynesboro and Augusta County, Virginia

Augusta Sign Company of Waynesboro makes interior sign systems from ordinary to different; simple white on brown rectangular signs to signs of custom shapes and colors. Most of the interior sign systems we make are made in-house from PVC material, usually 2mm or 3mm thick. The signs are typically mounted in wall-installed metal frames or hung from simple scroll brackets for an interesting look. The lettering is typically flush vinyl; cut or printed.

BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK OFFICE SIGNS

Here are a few recent examples of interior signage projects I have done around Waynesboro and Augusta County. The first project for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona, VA falls into the “ordinary” group. Not wanting their signs to be too gaudy, the director there chose a simple two-color monolithic design, white letters on brown. The system consisted of entrance way and hallway directional signs and office door signs intended to help new volunteers find their way around a little easier. Investing in better signage is a good way to spend extra year-end capital, and that was one of the reasons for the idea. Also, the Food Bank recently completed a large building renovation project and it was good timing to add new signage.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OFFICE SIGNS

The previous year I had built several new exterior signs for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro, VA. Continuing our relationship, the pastor called on me again for ideas on improving their interior signs at the church office. She had seen some neat signs on Pinterest and she shared the link with me as a good starting point. I chose to use 1/4″ thick white PVC with digitally printed graphics as the sign material and after discussions with the customer, decided to cut them in the same shape as their exterior signs to keep things consistent. The end product was really different. The hangers were plant hanging brackets I picked up at Lowes. All the office name signs were double-sided and were centered over the office doors; the directory was single-sided and inset into the existing reception counter, in view immediately as visitors enter the office.

If you’re in the market for interior signs, contact me anytime. Both of these multi-sign systems (30 plus signs for the food bank’s system and at least a dozen for the church’s) were designed, manufactured, and installed at a cost of less than $2,000. Considering the number of signs, interior signs are a cost effective way to spruce up your internal image for both staff and guests!

Mark Hackley owns Augusta Sign Company in the Tree Street area of Waynesboro, VA

540-943-9818